National Referee Consultant - Alternative Formats - Contractor

Project Purpose

Provide specialist consultancy services to support the development of sustainable referee pathways across alternative formats of football, including Futsal, Para Football, Walking Football, Beach Soccer, and Small-Sided Football.

Provide specialist consultancy services to support the development of sustainable referee pathways across alternative formats of football, including Futsal, Para Football, Walking Football, Beach Soccer, and Small-Sided Football.

The consultancy will deliver strategic recommendations, pathway development and stakeholder management that contributes to referee recruitment, retention, progression and inclusion in alternative format football.

The Consultant shall:

• Develop and maintain referee pathway frameworks across Alternative Formats Football.
• Produce workforce development recommendations to support recruitment, retention and progression of referees.
• Engage with County FAs, competition organisers, delivery partners and relevant stakeholders to identify development opportunities and barriers.
• Develop and maintain supporting guidance, resources and development tools for referees, referee developers and mentors.
• Produce periodic reviews and recommendations based on participation data, workforce insight and stakeholder feedback.
• Support implementation of agreed development initiatives and provide strategic advice on future referee workforce priorities.
• Produce project reports and recommendations demonstrating progress against agreed deliverables.

• Produce an annual review of the Futsal referee pathway, identifying workforce trends, progression opportunities and succession planning recommendations.
• Produce mid-season and end-of-season referee performance review summaries in partnership with relevant workforce leads.
• Maintain and review a programme of Laws of the Game and video analysis activity and provide recommendations arising from those reviews.
• Develop and coordinate an annual CPD framework aligned to the needs of the futsal referee workforce.
• Produce recommendations on referee course provision and workforce growth opportunities in collaboration with England Futsal and County FAs.
• Provide strategic recommendations and documented outputs to support the Futsal Referees Working Group.

• Produce and maintain a national Walking Football referee progression pathway.
• Complete an annual review of referee education and workforce provision within Walking Football.
• Produce recommendations arising from the annual Laws of the Game review process.
• Develop a framework for identification, development and support of Walking Football referee developers.
• Produce workforce development recommendations supporting sustainable referee growth and progression.
• Provide strategic recommendations and documented outputs to support the Walking Football Refereeing Working Group.

• Produce a national Para Football referee pathway plan covering grassroots through to international opportunities.
• Develop recruitment, retention and development resources that support inclusive participation.
• Produce recommendations to increase disability representation within refereeing pathways.
• Develop partnership plans with relevant Para Football delivery partners and stakeholders.
• Provide operational recommendations and support documentation linked to referee delivery within The FA Disability Cup.

• Complete a review of current referee development provision in Beach Soccer.
• Produce a referee recruitment, retention and progression plan aligned to The FA Refereeing Strategy.
• Develop supporting guidance and development resources for referees and delivery partners.
• Produce recommendations for strengthening development opportunities and progression routes.
• Maintain stakeholder engagement plans and partnership recommendations.

• Complete a review of existing referee development provision and future workforce requirements.
• Produce a referee pathway framework supporting participation and progression opportunities.
• Develop supporting recruitment, retention and development resources.
• Produce recommendations for workforce growth and…